OHV Volunteer Workday at Stonyford - Let's Get Ready to Ride!

The Recreation HQ looks forward to working with OHV volunteers at the Sept. 20 volunteer workday at the Stonyford OHV Area.

The FS OHV program manager sends this invitation to interested parties.  Let’s have a great turnout in preparation for the 2014-2015 riding season on the Mendocino. 

Please RSVP to Sarah at:   sridenour@fs.fed.us

Hello,

Volunteers and certified Chainsaw Operators, we need your help at our next volunteer event on Sept 20th.  We will be checking trails, removing hazards & repairing trail braiding for this year’s Enduro season.  We will meet at the Fouts maintenance yard at 10am. 9/20/2014

Plan on being out on the trails all day returning around 3pm.

What to Bring:

•             Bikes, side x sides, ATV’s, 4x4, etc.

•             Certified saw operators can bring their chainsaws and safety gear

Don’t forget your 15 Essentials for trail riding;

•             Multi tool(s)

•             Backpack w/hydration systems (water)

•             food (Lunch)

•             Tow rope or tie down

•             tire repair kit

•             First Aid Kit

•             Matches or a lighter

•             Map (will be provided)

•             cell phone

•             camera (go pro)

•             zip ties

•             tape

•             sun screen,

•             hand saw

•             safety gear (gloves, helmet, goggles, boots, chaps, hard hats, ear protection, etc..) if you do not have safety gear we should be able to accommodate you. 

Hope to see you here!!

Thank you,

Sarah Ridenour-Chamberlin

Off Highway Vehicle Program Manager

Mendocino National Forest

Grindstone Ranger District

5171 Stonyford-Elk Creek Rd

Stonyford, CA 95979

Office (530) 963-1327

Cell (408) 449-2171

The HQ wants to thank all of the volunteers who continue to help with the post-Mill Fire trail rehab.

Stonyford Post Fire Volunteer Days to Start Oct. 20

The Recreation HQ wants to remind folks that the Mendocino National Forest is getting ready to launch some post-fire trail volunteer days soon with the goal of getting the trail system back online at Stonyford ASAP.

Janelle Taggart is heading up the volunteer efforts temporarily here at Stonyford while Paige Makowski, the regular FS volunteer coordinator, is on a detail assignment. Janelle is a full time student at San Jose State University and has classes in the San Jose Bay Area Monday through Wednesday and will be working in Stonyford, on an internship, Thursdays and Fridays and some Saturdays.

Here are the volunteer dates scheduled throughout the next couple months. The FS has decided to hold monthly volunteer events held on the 3rd Saturday of each month. Please put these dates on your calendars.

 October 20th

November 17th

December 15th

January 19th

If you have not done so yet, complete the OF301a Volunteer Agreement Form linked below and send to Janelle at the address below:  *You must sign and date the form.

Here is the link to the volunteer form   http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Volunteer_FS_agreement.pdf

Janelle Taggart

Forestry Rec Tech

Mendocino National Forest

Grindstone Ranger District

5171 Stonyford-Elk Creek Rd

Stonyford, CA 95979

(530)963-1328

Email: jctaggart@fs.fed.us

 

The Recreation HQ will see you on October 20.

 

 

TRAIL TIPS - Camo that Ghost Route

Pre Camo of Ghost Trail

Post Camo of Ghost Trail

Trail riders often ask HQ what are some simple trail tasks that I can do while out on a trail ride?

Being a responsible rider is really no different than being a responsible hiker or camper. Just as we pick up trash around our campsite or pick up an empty can while on a hike, off-roaders can look for simple ways to protect the resource when they are on the trail.

One issue that can impact trails during the fall season is when leaves are covering the system trail and new ghost routes are developed because riders cannot see the system trail.

In the above photos, you will see a ghost trail treated by The General recently while on a trail ride. Actually, TG accidentally ended up on the ghost route and found out it dead ended at the top of a 10 foot cut bank above the road. It looked like a number of other riders had blown by the system trail and took the ghost trail only to find out it was a dead end. This was both a resource and safety issue.

When you find a situation like this you have several choices. One, you can ignore the issue and let somebody else deal with it. Two, you can tell one of the rangers about it (this is a good idea particularly when there is a big tree down or other large issue to deal with), but it may take the agency a number of days to deal with it. Or three, you can stop for a few minutes and work on the simple issue yourself.

The simplest way to address this ghost route was to drag some down branches across the route and also scatter some leaves and woody debris over the tracks.

As you can see in the above pre and post photos, the camo treatment worked pretty well.

The Recreation HQ encourages you that while out on the trail; you should be looking for simple resource issues that you can address. Don’t pawn it off on somebody else. Be part of the solution.

Thanks for your service!





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Nov. 14 Trail Cleanup - Plumas National Forest

The General’s friend and trail guru – Doug Teeter, president of the Paradise Ridge Riders – is planning a trail cleanup for Saturday November 14th from 9:00 am until the job is done. They will meet at the intersection of the Oro Quincy Hwy and French Creek Rd. N 39-41-107, W 121-21-710 the dump site is located approx. 1/10 of a mile down French Creek Rd. and then approx 1 mile left down Forest Rd. 21N44.

The Forest Service will place a dumpster at the Brush Creek Station (about 3-4 mi. from the dump site) were we will transfer the debris from our trucks/trailers. The Forest Service will pay all dump and rental fees, all labor will be volunteer.

Forest service contact for this project is Joel Osofsky
530-532-7465
Email jtosofsky@fs.fed.us


Paradise Ridge Rider contact is Doug Teeter
530-872-1852
Email yourtrailnext@yahoo.com


This project on the Plumas National Forest is done in cooperation between the Feather River Ranger District and Ironman Dual Sport, Paradise Ridge Riders, Chico Honda, Chico Motorsports, and many others.

These types of volunteer projects (i.e. cleanups, trail maintenance, etc.) are an important part of any successful OHV management program. Forests that have volunteer programs also score higher on the OHV grant application process at California State Parks.